The leader of Spelthorne Borough Council has been caught on camera saying it is 'up to' residents if they want to live near the river

Footage has emerged of the leader of Spelthorne Borough Council responding to angry questions from a flood-hit resident by saying: "If people want to live by the river, that's up to them".

Cllr Robert Watts was filmed by Jason McCarthy, who cornered him to ask what the council was doing to help people along the towpath of the Thames, where homes have been submerged in water for nearly a week.

But the council leader - who represents the local authority for one of the worst-affected areas in the recent flooding crisis - walks away from Mr McCarthy, refusing to answer his questions.

His reply can just be heard on the video: "If people want to live by the river, that's up to them."

Mr McCarthy asks: "Is that your answer then?"

Cllr Watts replies: "That's one answer."

Mr McCarthy asks: "So it's basically their fault is it?"

Cllr Watts answers: "I didn't say that."

Cllr Watts defended himself when he spoke to Get Surrey on Thursday after the footage was posted on Facebook.

He said Mr McCarthy was "aggressive" with his questioning and he was simply on his way to see what he could do to help.

"I said something to get him off my case - I was going down to see what was going on in the High Street," Cllr Watts said.

"You can understand that they're angry - but they're happy to live by the river in the summer.

"If people haven't been able to get through to the council yet, keep trying. We councillors are also happy to take calls at home.

"We are not going to go wading through the waters into peoples' homes. There are uncovered manholes and we'll end up at the bottom of them."

He said the council was doing "whatever it can do" for people.

"We have established where our vulnerable residents are through visiting them on a regular basis. This was daily, by a council officer, but now it's a bit harder to get out to them," he added.

"We have clearly identified our policy on the flooding, which is available on our website. We have listed our policy on sandbags, but we're not dishing them out overnight as it's dangerous for our staff.

"We have also listed our policy on short term emergency accommodation - if you are forced to leave your property, try to make arrangements with friends or family. There is basic short term accommodation in our evacuation centres, such as Spelthorne Leisure Centre.

"We have also been leafletting for people that don't have access to the internet."

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.